Presenting 2025 Hotelie Hall of Fame Story - Keith Barr '92
An excerpt from Keith's story...
Keith Barr grew up in Massachusetts, and early on in his life, he developed a passion for cooking and hospitality. Something about the central role food played in his family gatherings captivated him. While his cousins were outside playing, Keith buried his nose in Gourmet Magazine and cookbooks. He carried that passion into his teen years, working nights, weekends, and summers in restaurants. Through these experiences, he developed a work ethic that would serve him well throughout his entire academic and professional career.
When it was time for college, Keith set his sights on hospitality. He applied to several schools, but was passionate about Cornell as he wanted to go to the best hospitality school in the world. With his strong academic performance, Keith was accepted. There was just one catch: he couldn’t afford to go and was going to have to decline the opportunity. That is, until Cheri Farrell, the Hotel School’s Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, intervened on his behalf. Farrell had noticed a spark in Keith and helped to secure him the financial aid he needed to make Cornell a possibility.